Workers for Ontario's main liquor retailer, who say the government's plan to open up the alcohol market poses an existential threat to their jobs, are now on strike, with stores expected to stay closed for at least 14 days.
Thousands of workers at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario went on strike Friday morning in the first such labour disruption in the retailer's history, after months of contract negotiations between their union and management failed to result in a new deal.
Wages are not the issues, the union said, rather they take issue with Premier Doug Ford's sped-up plan to open up the alcohol market - in particular the increased access to ready-to-drink cocktails.